Christopher Snowden
Encyclopedia
Professor Christopher Maxwell Snowden FRS FREng FIET FIEEE FCGI
(born 5 March 1956 in Kingston upon Hull
) is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Surrey
in Guildford
, Surrey
, United Kingdom
.
, gaining a BSc
in 1977, an MSc
and a PhD
in 1982. His PhD involved microwave oscillators for radar applications and semiconductor device modeling. He conducted his PhD research at Racal-MESL Ltd near Edinburgh
in Scotland
as well as at the University of Leeds
.
from 1982-3. From 1983-2005 he was a member of staff at the University of Leeds, his former alma mater
, working in the Dept of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, becoming Professor of Microwave Engineering in 1992 until 2005. He was Head of the school from 1995-8 and for a while was warden of Bodington Hall
. Whilst at Leeds he was a founder of the Institute of Microwave and Photonics. He supervised 50 successful PhD students. He has also worked at M/A-COM in the US from 1989-91 as Senior Staff Scientist in the Corporate Research and Development Centre, based just outside Boston.
In 1998 he was appointed to the Board of Filtronic plc as Executive Director of Technology, where he initiated the Global Technology Group. He was subsequently appointed Joint Chief Executive Officer of Filtronic plc in 1999. As the company grew in 2001 he became Chief Executive Officer of Filtronic ICS, responsible for compound semiconductor business and fabrication facilities in the UK and US (including the world’s largest 150mm gallium arsenide wafer facility at that time), defense businesses in the UK and US, module assembly and point-point microwave transceiver businesses.
In 2005 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Surrey
.
In his research career he has published over 300 technical papers and written 8 books including }
(World Scientific in English and Japanese). He has acted as editor for 4 journals and 3 special issues as well as the EEE Wiley book series. He has given over 70 keynote invited and plenary lectures. He has chaired a number of major international conferences including the 2006 European Microwave Conference.
He has held a number of consultancy positions including positions with General Electric
(US), M/A-Com inc (US), Filtronic Comtek, Lucas-Variety (UK), Filtronic plc and Diamond Microwave Devices Ltd (UK). He was also a Visiting Professor at Durham until 2005 and a Visiting Scientist at the Delft University of Technology
from 1996-98.
The University is now structured in to four Faculties in Engineering and Physical Sciences, Arts and Human Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences and Management and Law. Its Guilford campus in rural Surrey in the UK has over 15,000 students and the Surrey International Institute at Dalian in China (which is venture with DUFE) has over 1000 students studying for Surrey degrees. Since 2005 the University has forged partnerships and links with California Institute of Technology (where Professor Snowden was a Visiting Member of Staff in 1987), North Carolina State University, São Paulo, UCLA, Beijing, Nanjing and Soeul National University. The entrance standards at the university have risen 25% since 2005 and applications have risen nearly 80% over the last five years. Surrey was awarded the 2006 THES Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology sponsored by Toshiba. It has invested nearly £36 million in anew world-class sports park on its Guildford campus which opens in April 2010. The University recently sold its satellite technology business SSTL for close to £50m cash whilst retaining continuing relationship with the University’s Space Research Centre, which was a record for a cash spin-out from a UK university.
(IET) (2009–10). He is Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Engineering
where he Chairs the Academy’s Engineering Policy Committee.
He is a member of the governing bodies of the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
(EPSRC) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society
, the Royal Academy of Engineering
, the Institution of Engineering and Technology
(IET), the IEEE and the City and Guilds of London Institute
.
He has been a member of Foresight Committee panels on Communications and Media, and Exploitation of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. He was a member of the UK’s National Advisory Committee on Electronic Materials 2002-7. He was a member of the supervisory board of the Electromagnetic Remote Sensing Defense Technology Centre form 2002-5. He has appeared before the UK’s House of Commons Select Committee on several occasions.
He was Chairman of the Daphne Jackson Trust from 2005 to 2009 and is now a patron of the Trust. He is a patron Surrey Youth Focus. He is a Governor of the Royal Surrey County Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust.
He has been a non-executive director of companies such as Intense Ltd, CENAMPS Ltd., SSTL. He was a Board member of the European Microwave Association from 2003-7, where he was also Vice-Chair for a period. He was Chair of HERO Ltd from 2006-9 and a Member of the governing board of the Engineering Technology Board from 2007-9. He is currently a board member of Universities UK (UUK) and Chairs their Employability, Business and Industry policy committee. He is a member of the South East England Science, Engineering and Technology Advisory Council (SESETAC) and a member of the Council of Industry and Higher Education (CIHE).
The Royal Academy of Engineering awarded him their Silver Medal for ‘Outstanding personal contributions to the UK microwave semiconductor industry’ in 2004.
Between 1998 and 2005 he was a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Electron Devices Society.
In 2003 he was invited by HRH The Queen to Buckingham Palace for the Pioneer Reception recognizing his contributions to communication technology.
City and Guilds of London Institute
The City and Guilds of London Institute is a leading United Kingdom vocational education organisation. City & Guilds offers more than 500 qualifications over the whole range of industry sectors through 8500 colleges and training providers in 81 countries worldwide...
(born 5 March 1956 in Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
) is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early life
He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of LeedsUniversity of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, gaining a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1977, an MSc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
and a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1982. His PhD involved microwave oscillators for radar applications and semiconductor device modeling. He conducted his PhD research at Racal-MESL Ltd near Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
as well as at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
.
Career
He was an Applications Engineer for Mullard Applications Laboratory from 1977-8. He lectured at the Dept of Electronics in the University of YorkUniversity of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
from 1982-3. From 1983-2005 he was a member of staff at the University of Leeds, his former alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, working in the Dept of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, becoming Professor of Microwave Engineering in 1992 until 2005. He was Head of the school from 1995-8 and for a while was warden of Bodington Hall
Bodington Hall
Bodington Hall is a site owned by the University of Leeds, which contains the university's main playing fields and its largest hall of residence. It is also used for conferences. Known as Bod within the university, it is located between Lawnswood and Adel, approximately 4 mi north of the main...
. Whilst at Leeds he was a founder of the Institute of Microwave and Photonics. He supervised 50 successful PhD students. He has also worked at M/A-COM in the US from 1989-91 as Senior Staff Scientist in the Corporate Research and Development Centre, based just outside Boston.
In 1998 he was appointed to the Board of Filtronic plc as Executive Director of Technology, where he initiated the Global Technology Group. He was subsequently appointed Joint Chief Executive Officer of Filtronic plc in 1999. As the company grew in 2001 he became Chief Executive Officer of Filtronic ICS, responsible for compound semiconductor business and fabrication facilities in the UK and US (including the world’s largest 150mm gallium arsenide wafer facility at that time), defense businesses in the UK and US, module assembly and point-point microwave transceiver businesses.
In 2005 he was appointed Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
.
In his research career he has published over 300 technical papers and written 8 books including }
(World Scientific in English and Japanese). He has acted as editor for 4 journals and 3 special issues as well as the EEE Wiley book series. He has given over 70 keynote invited and plenary lectures. He has chaired a number of major international conferences including the 2006 European Microwave Conference.
He has held a number of consultancy positions including positions with General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
(US), M/A-Com inc (US), Filtronic Comtek, Lucas-Variety (UK), Filtronic plc and Diamond Microwave Devices Ltd (UK). He was also a Visiting Professor at Durham until 2005 and a Visiting Scientist at the Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology , also known as TU Delft, is the largest and oldest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands...
from 1996-98.
Career at University of Surrey
On 1 July 2005, Professor Snowden became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, succeeding Professor Patrick J Dowling. As Vice-Chancellor he is responsible for leading the University's new strategy.The University is now structured in to four Faculties in Engineering and Physical Sciences, Arts and Human Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences and Management and Law. Its Guilford campus in rural Surrey in the UK has over 15,000 students and the Surrey International Institute at Dalian in China (which is venture with DUFE) has over 1000 students studying for Surrey degrees. Since 2005 the University has forged partnerships and links with California Institute of Technology (where Professor Snowden was a Visiting Member of Staff in 1987), North Carolina State University, São Paulo, UCLA, Beijing, Nanjing and Soeul National University. The entrance standards at the university have risen 25% since 2005 and applications have risen nearly 80% over the last five years. Surrey was awarded the 2006 THES Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology sponsored by Toshiba. It has invested nearly £36 million in anew world-class sports park on its Guildford campus which opens in April 2010. The University recently sold its satellite technology business SSTL for close to £50m cash whilst retaining continuing relationship with the University’s Space Research Centre, which was a record for a cash spin-out from a UK university.
Fellowships, Memberships and Societies
Professor Snowden was President of the Institution of Engineering and TechnologyInstitution of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is a British professional body for those working in engineering and technology in the United Kingdom and worldwide. It was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers , dating back to 1871, and the...
(IET) (2009–10). He is Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
where he Chairs the Academy’s Engineering Policy Committee.
He is a member of the governing bodies of the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is a British Research Council that provides government funding for grants to undertake research and postgraduate degrees in engineering and the physical sciences , mainly to universities in the United Kingdom...
(EPSRC) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, the Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
, the Institution of Engineering and Technology
Institution of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is a British professional body for those working in engineering and technology in the United Kingdom and worldwide. It was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers , dating back to 1871, and the...
(IET), the IEEE and the City and Guilds of London Institute
City and Guilds of London Institute
The City and Guilds of London Institute is a leading United Kingdom vocational education organisation. City & Guilds offers more than 500 qualifications over the whole range of industry sectors through 8500 colleges and training providers in 81 countries worldwide...
.
He has been a member of Foresight Committee panels on Communications and Media, and Exploitation of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. He was a member of the UK’s National Advisory Committee on Electronic Materials 2002-7. He was a member of the supervisory board of the Electromagnetic Remote Sensing Defense Technology Centre form 2002-5. He has appeared before the UK’s House of Commons Select Committee on several occasions.
He was Chairman of the Daphne Jackson Trust from 2005 to 2009 and is now a patron of the Trust. He is a patron Surrey Youth Focus. He is a Governor of the Royal Surrey County Hospital
Royal Surrey County Hospital
The Royal Surrey County Hospital is a 527-bedded District General Hospital, located on the fringe of Guildford, serving a population of 320,000 for general services and 1,200,000 for cancer services...
NHS Foundation Trust.
He has been a non-executive director of companies such as Intense Ltd, CENAMPS Ltd., SSTL. He was a Board member of the European Microwave Association from 2003-7, where he was also Vice-Chair for a period. He was Chair of HERO Ltd from 2006-9 and a Member of the governing board of the Engineering Technology Board from 2007-9. He is currently a board member of Universities UK (UUK) and Chairs their Employability, Business and Industry policy committee. He is a member of the South East England Science, Engineering and Technology Advisory Council (SESETAC) and a member of the Council of Industry and Higher Education (CIHE).
Honours and awards
He was awarded the IEEE Microwave Prize in 1999 and the IEEE Distinguished Educator Award in 2009 by the Microwave Theory and Techniques Society.The Royal Academy of Engineering awarded him their Silver Medal for ‘Outstanding personal contributions to the UK microwave semiconductor industry’ in 2004.
Between 1998 and 2005 he was a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Electron Devices Society.
In 2003 he was invited by HRH The Queen to Buckingham Palace for the Pioneer Reception recognizing his contributions to communication technology.
Personal life
He married Irena Lewandowska in 1993. They have two sons (born March 1994 and August 1996).External links
- Vice-Chancellor's Office – University of Surrey
- EPSRC
- 1999 Microwave Prize at the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society